1 Nominalizations – THE Zombie Nouns OF THE English Language PDF

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NOMINALIZATIONS – THE ZOMBIE NOUNS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

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Nominalizations (often called “zombie nouns”) promote a passive writing style that is wordy and uninformative. They turn a verb or an adjective into a noun. discover -> discovery move -> movement react -> reaction fail -> failure refuse -> refusal

careless -> carelessness difficult -> difficulty different -> difference applicable -> applicability intense -> intensity

Consider the following two sentences 

Identify the actors (characters) each sentence, then identify the actions they perform. (Circle the characters and underline the actions)



Are the characters cast as subjects of the sentence and are the actions cast as verbs?

Version 1 Once upon a time, as a walk through the woods was taking place on the part of Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolf’s jump out from behind a tree occurred, causing her fright. Version 2

Once upon a time, Little Red Riding Hood was walking through the woods, when the Wolf jumped out from behind a tree and frightened her. If we name the “characters” in the subjects of this sentence, and name the actions they perform in the verbs (that is, turn the nouns into their verb forms), then the sentence is much clearer (as in the second sentence).

The following list contains verbs, adjectives, and nominalizations. Examine these words and turn the verbs and adjectives into nominalizations and the nominalizations into their verb or adjective forms. accuracy

analysis

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appearance

approach

attempt

believe

careful

clear

comparison

conclusion

decide

decrease

define

description

discuss

emphasize

evaluate

examine

explanation

expression

failure

improve

increase

intelligent

suggest

thorough

USELESS NOMINALIZATIONS Use the following test: If you can place “the”, “an”, “there is”, or “their” in front of the word, it means it is a nominalization. If you can place “to” in front of the word, it means it is a verb. 1. Nominalization follows verb The police conducted an investigation into the matter. The police investigated the matter. 2. Nominalization follows `there is.' There was considerable erosion of the land from the floods. The floods | considerably eroded | the land. 3. Nominalization is subject of empty verb. Our discussion concerned a tax cut. We discussed a tax cut. 4. Consecutive nominalizations There was first a review of the evolution of the dorsal fin. First, she reviewed the evolution of the dorsal fin. First, she reviewed how the dorsal fin evolved. 5. Linked nominalizations Their cessation of hostilities was because of their personnel losses. They ceased hostilities because they lost personnel.

Circle all of the nominalizations in these two sentences. Which one is clearer and why?

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The application by the farmer of pesticides in large quantities to the crops results in the desired increase in yields in the first years. However, after many treatments, the resistance of some of the individual insect populations under assault by the pesticide allows for the establishment of new populations with no ill effects from the pesticides.

When the farmer first applies pesticides in large quantities to the crops, the yields increase as desired. However, many insects can resist this assault and can establish new populations that the pesticides won’t affect.

The goal is the reduction of nominalizations for the creation of active voice!

SPOTTING AND REVISING NOMINALIZATIONS 1. When the nominalization follows an empty verb, change the nominalization to a verb that can replace the empty verb. The police conducted an investigation of the matter. The police investigated the matter. 2. When a nominalization follows a there is or there are, change the nominalization into a verb and find the subject. There was considerable erosion of the land from the floods. The floods considerably eroded the land. 3. When the nominalization is the subject of an empty verb, change the nominalization to a verb and find a new subject. Our intention is to audit the records of the program. We intend to audit the records of the program.

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4. When you find two nominalizations in a row, make at least the first into a verb. Then either leave the second as it is or turn it into a verb in a clause beginning with how or why. There was first a review of the evolution of the dorsal fin. First, she reviewed the evolution of the dorsal fin. First, she reviewed how the dorsal fin evolved. 5. We have to revise most extensively when a nominalization in a subject is linked to another nominalization in the predicate. Subject: Their cessation of hostilities Logical Connection: was because of Object: personnel losses. Follow these steps to revise such sentences: 1. Change abstractions to verbs: cessation ->, cease, loss -> lose 2. Find new subjects for those verbs: they ceased, they lost 3. Link the new clauses with a word that expresses their logical connection.

To express cause: because, when To express condition: if, provided that To express reservation: though, although

Their cessation of hostilities -> They ceased hostilities was because of -> because their personnel losses. -> they lost personnel.

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EXERCISES

Circle nominalizations; underline verbs. 1a.

Some people argue that atmospheric carbon dioxide does not elevate global temperature.

1b.

There has been speculation by educators about the role of the family in the improvement of educational achievement.

Revise the passive sentence:

2a.

We need to know which parts of our national forests are being logged most extensively so that we can save virgin stands at greatest risk.

2b.

There is a need for an analysis of library use to provide a reliable base for the projection of needed resources.

Revise the passive sentence:

3a.

Many professional athletes fail to realize that they are unprepared for life after stardom because their teams protect them from the problems that the rest of us adjust to every day.

3b.

Colleges have come to an understanding that yearly tuition increases are no longer possible because of strong resistance from parents to the soaring costs of higher education.

Revise the passive sentence:

Review one of the abstracts you wrote. Identify the characters of each sentence and the actions they perform. Circle nominalizations and underline verbs, then revise.

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